Discover Five Unique Benefits of Becoming an Angel Investor with The S100 Club in Surrey
As the landscape of innovation continues to evolve, angel investors play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship.
Established in 2007 and affiliated with the prestigious University of Surrey, the S100 Club offers a unique platform for veteran and first-time angel investors seeking to engage with high-potential pioneering startups seeking funding.
At the start of 2024, the S100 Club appointed seasoned investor and business leader, Iain Jamieson as its new Chair (picture inset).
Based on a recent Q&A interview with Iain, here are five compelling reasons – beyond simply being the closest to feeling like a Dragon on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den TV show – for why becoming an angel investor with the S100 Club could be your next great investment adventure.
To find out more about how to become an angel investor with the S100 Club, visit our website:
S100 Club Angel Investor – Surrey Research Park
Top Reasons to join and invest with the S100 Club
- It’s fun
Investing through the S100 Club is not just a business activity; it’s a fulfilling and enjoyable way to engage with like-minded individuals.
“It’s quite rewarding listening to entrepreneurs’ pitches and getting involved with some of their ventures”, Iain says. “I have invested in a couple of other businesses and been quite heavily involved in one business, in particular. It’s very interesting getting involved in multiple different sectors that you’re not necessarily familiar with and learning about them.”
The opportunity to engage as an angel investing via the S100 is not only a potentially financially rewarding endeavour but for those who enjoy taking a risk, it can be a lot of fun too!
- Become Part of a Prestigious Network
The S100 Club is not just an investment opportunity; it’s a community of like-minded people that meet for presentation evenings each quarter at the University of Surrey, in Guildford.
Affiliated with the University and linked to the award-winning SETsquared Partnership – recently ranked the UK’s number one startup business incubator by the Financial Times, members are usually first to see pitches from some of the UK’s most exciting startups.
- No Membership Fees
One special benefit of the S100 Club, which for Iain differentiates it from other popular investment groups, is that it’s free for both investors and entrepreneurs.
“Unlike many investor clubs, we don’t charge a membership fee and 100% of the angels’ funds go into the company they want to invest in. We do not charge investors or entrepreneurs any commission, which is great news for everyone involved,” he explains.
This approach ensures your investments directly support the ventures you believe in and in turn makes the S100 Club a more attractive opportunity for high-potential entrepreneurs, from nationwide, to come and pitch.
- Diverse Investment Opportunities
The S100 Club prides itself on offering a diverse portfolio of investment opportunities, spanning various sectors, from medical to cyber and everything in between.
This wide variety not only enhances your potential for financial return and diversifies your risks, but it also broadens your knowledge of emerging technologies and business models. “It’s very interesting getting involved in multiple different sectors that you’re not necessarily familiar with, and learning about them,” explains Iain.
Through his membership of the S100 Club, Iain’s investment portfolio has grown to include a space propulsion company called ProtoLaunch along with Surrey Research Park-based Signapse, which uses AI to improve the lives of deaf people and the hearing impaired.
- High-Quality Investment Opportunities
“There’s a very high quality of business looking for funding,” says Iain. All the above points, combined with the rigorous selection process, led by the University of Surrey and SETsquared, ensures that only the most promising startups get to pitch.
This gives investors confidence that they are seeing presentations by some of the most promising future business leaders and tech entrepreneurs in the UK.
Join A Community of investors
Angel investing with the S100 Club offers more than just financial returns. It’s an opportunity to be part of a community that’s at the forefront of supporting UK innovation and entrepreneurship.
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to invest your funds, resources and expertise, then The S100 Club could be a suitable platform for you. Please get in touch to discuss the next steps.
Discover more about the Chair of the S100 Club
This article offers just a snapshot of Iain Jamieson’s investment journey. To discover more about his experiences and ambitions for the S100 Club’s next chapter, check out the full Q&A interview by downloading our Sparks Article.
Exclusive – Corporate Sponsorship Opportunity
As the Chair of the S100 Club, Iain is eager to grow the network to support more startups and offer more fantastic investment opportunities to members, while preserving what makes the Club so special.
As such, he and the team are looking to partner with a sponsor to help offset some of the administration costs of running the not-for-profit investment club. As well as contributing to the growth of the S100 Club and the future of innovation, you would enjoy greater visibility of your brand within a vibrant community of investors and innovators. If this sounds like you, please get in touch to schedule a call.
